St Mirren

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Alex Gogic never put a foot wrong for St Mirren and set the foundations for an impressive 3-0 win against Hibernian on Sunday.

Oisin Smyth’s 20-minute cameo off the bench for the Buddies saw him bag two goals, but I'm opting for the impressive Roland Idowu who was outstanding throughout and was unlucky not to notch two goals himself, finding the net once and hitting the woodwork.

Image source, SNS

Roland Idowu had quite the conundrum during the off season.

Having not played for six months, he had two options. Either hit the town or hit the ground running.

He opted for the latter.

Three minutes into the second half against Hibernian on Sunday, it showed he'd made the right choice, getting the breakthrough and sending the Buddies on their way to a win in their first Premiership game of the season.

“I don’t want to say I’m not humble, but I feel I’ve put in the work over the summer for this," the 22-year-old said. "I’m just glad it’s all coming together.

“Before I came here, I hadn’t played for six months and it was a decision for myself – to either go partying throughout the summer or work. And I decided to work.

“It’s hard when all your mates and team-mates are back home after a long season, but I just needed to get my career back on track and I’m happy I’m doing that at the moment."

The Dubliner thanked manager Stephen Robinson for the confidence he placed in him and his style of play.

As seen at the weekend and in Europe, Idowu excels in the attacking-midfield mould where he can "express himself" and the on-loan Shrewsbury Town youngster is aiming to do just that against Brann on Thursday.

"We’re going into that game full of confidence of going into the next round," he added.

“We’ve got a really good squad and I just feel in the Brann game, we’re going to use our squad to the best of our ability and hopefully get a result.”

Should the Buddies get a result, Idowu probably won't need to wait until next summer for a party...

We asked you for your views following St Mirren's stunning win against Hibernian on Sunday to kick off their Scottish Premiership season.

Here's what you had to say:

Alistair: We entered unknown territory playing after a European game and absolutely bossed it. Some of the football was superb, the full team deserve credit for bringing the feel good factor to Paisley.

Craig: Saints came to life in the second half and completely bossed Hibs from then on. First half we were a bit sluggish and not much football was played by either team.

Great momentum and hopefully this continues against the Norwegians on Thursday night.

Alan: Thought it was a pretty even first half but getting the early second half goal gave us quite the lift. From there on I thought we were first class. It's early days but I do think we have the squad to do really well again.

Alistair: Idowu is a find and we'll give a fair few teams a scare this season. Top five again I reckon this season.

Ewan: After a first half performance which could of seen us easily three goals down if it wasn't for Hibs poor decision making in the final third and an incredible save from Balcombe to prevent a Gogic own goal.

The second half brought a real increase in energy from the Saints which ultimately allowed us to control the game and create the scoring chances

Image source, Getty Images

St Mirren will meet Corvinul Hunedoara or Astana in the Conference League play-off if they defeat Brann.

Corvinul Hunedoara were runners-up in the Romanian top flight last season and won the Cupa Romaniei, while Astana were runners-up in Kazakhstan's top division.

The sides meet over the next two Thursdays and St Mirren would be at home first if they progress.

Stephen Robinson's side play the home leg of their third qualifying round tie against Brann on Thursday, with the return leg the following Thursday in Norway.

The Buddies beat Iceland's Valur 4-1 on aggregate to reach the last round before the group stage.

All Conference League play-off ties would be played over the final two Thursdays in August.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Oisin Smyth says St Mirren can compete "at the top end of the table" this season after the Paisley side started their Premiership campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over Hibs on Sunday.

The Northern Irish midfielder signed over the summer from Oxford United and scored twice on his Premiership debut having come off the bench.

Smyth, 24, struggled for minutes at his previous club and is determined to get up to speed as quickly as possible with big matches coming for the Buddies both in Europe and domestically.

"I've loved it, to tell you the truth," Smyth told BBC Sport Scotland. "It's been tough. Getting minutes into the legs in pre-season was good and then with the two European games it was just about finding my feet again so now I hope I can kick on.

"There's no reason why we can't go and compete at the top end of the table this year. I know we're probably not expected to because we're obviously limited in terms of what we've got but at the same time, Hibs are a top team and we've beaten them 3-0 today.

"It was intense. I was only on for 30-35 minutes and it was tough. It's going to take a bit of getting used to but I can't wait for the challenge.

"I'll maybe not expect two goals every week but I'm happy to play wherever I'm wanted and if I can keep getting into the box, hopefully I can keep scoring."

Smyth is also delighted the club have further European football to look forward to, and he doesn't want the journey to end with Norwegian side Brann, who come to Paisley this week in the .

"It's brilliant. We saw the atmosphere the fans brought here on Thursday (against Valur); it was incredible," Smyth added.

"If we can bring that again, there's no reason why we can't go and challenge again and push on into the next round.

"We're just going to give it our best. We've got a decent squad of players so we're able to rotate so there's no reason why we can't go and compete again."

Watch the best of the opening-day action from Paisley as St Mirren beat Hibernian. (Available to UK users only)

Image source, Getty Images

Brann prepared for Thursday's Europa Conference League third qualifying round first leg away to St Mirren with a 3-2 victory over Stromsgodset.

The victory means the Bergen side sit second in Norway's Eliteserien, seven points behind reigning champions Bodo/Glimt.

Head coach Eirik Horneland made two changes from the 2-1 Conference League win over Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles - and both played their part.

Winger Ole Didrik Blomberg was handed a start and his 20th-minute curling cross to the back post was volleyed home by forward Bard Finne before the visitors extended the lead when striker Niklas Castro's low cross was turned into his own net by defender Gustav Valsvik.

Stromsgodset defender Logi Tomasson fired home to reduce the arrears shortly before the break, but midfielder Sander Kartum rewarded his head coach's faith in starting him as his low drive squirmed under the home goalkeeper to restore the two-goal lead just after the hour.

Home midfielder Fredrik Ardraa curled in a reply in stoppage time, but it could not prevent Brann heading to Paisley with a first win at Marienlyst Stadion in 10 years and unbeaten in five games since a 5-1 thumping away to the league leaders.

Defender Martin Hellan and forward Magnus Warming were both unused substitutes after dropping to the bench.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson told BBC Scotland: "The second half was full marks. We managed the game really well. We looked a little jaded to start, a little tired. We expended a lot of energy in that game on Thursday.

"It was important to get them in at half time, spoke to them about what they're good at. We didn't pass the ball well enough in the first half, it was a little frantic.

"The first goal is always important and then we settled, we were in total control after that. When we were 3-0 up, we managed the game which is a big improvement.

"[Oisin Smyth and James Scott] have worked tirelessly in the background, along with others, to get up to fitness. We know they're quality, they're adding to the squad. I'm delighted for both those boys and we have real competition in the group.

"Roland is a bit of a maverick. We're structured and have good shape, but he gives us a point of difference. The hard bit now is managing the squad and rotating it for the European games."

Top of the league for a wee while at least, St Mirren fans. What did you make of that performance?

It's been some week, hasn't it? Who has impressed you most? And have your expectations for the season changed?

Let us know your thoughts here., external

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Although there might be debate about the quality of St Mirren’s Europa Conference League opposition last week - some compared Icelandic side Valur to a Championship team - you can only play what is in front of you and the Buddies dispatched Hibs with similar ease.

The first half was rough and tumble, and the hosts only really created anything when they countered.

Once they had absorbed that early pressure, they kicked into life. Driven forward by Idowu in midfield, they became more clinical in the second half and a quickfire double wrapped up all three points.

All this was done without talismanic captain Mark O'Hara, who picked up a niggle against Valur. Despite the impressive performances throughout the team, Stephen Robinson will want him back sooner rather than later.

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Roland Idowu. An all-action performance from the 22-year-old Irishman who is already winning plenty of plaudits early in his St Mirren career.

The former Waterford man arrived with little fanfare from League One side Shrewsbury Town on loan over the summer, but against Valur and again today, he has been St Mirren's stand-out.

He took his goal brilliantly and was unlucky not to score a second, hitting the woodwork. He was also busy in midfield, getting stuck into the opposition, winning tackles, distributing well, and looking composed in possession.

St Mirren: Balcombe; Rooney, Fraser, Gogic, R Taylor, Tanser, Adeniran, Boyd-Munce, Idowu, Olusanya, Ayunga.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Iacovitti, Kenny, Bwomono, Brown, F Taylor, Smyth, Scott, Mandron.

Hibernian: Bursik, Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Newell, Campbell, Molotnikov, Boyle, Vente.

Substitutes: Smith, Levitt, Cadden, Amos, McKirdy, Megwa, Tavares, Bushiri, Kuharevich.

Image source, SNS

Shaun Rooney was 'gutted' to have his St Mirren debut postponed by suspension, but admits his belated debut goal was a 'nice touch' to make up for it.

The 28-year-old missed the Saints' Conference League first leg clash versus Valur due to a suspension picked up while at former club St Johnstone.

15 minutes into the second leg, however, Rooney popped up with a header which set St Mirren on their way to the next round of qualifying.

"Obviously to score on [my] debut was a nice touch," Rooney said.

"I was gutted to be sitting out last week through suspension but glad to be back with a goal.

"It's more minutes under the belt so hopefully can keep on going."

Rooney's first leg suspension was incurred the last time he targeted group stage football, picking up a red card during St Johnstone's defeat to LASK Linz in the play-off round three years ago.

The defender is keen to progress further in Europe than he ever has before, admitting the allure of continental football was a key reason for joining the Paisley club.

"That’s why I joined St Mirren, for European success.

"Hopefully we get through to the group stages and keep on going but obviously we take it one tie at a time. We have Brann next and I'm looking forward to it.

"We have home advantage first, so a good atmosphere like Thursday and you never know what happens.”

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St Mirren will conduct a "full review" after the club was found guilty of fielding an unregistered player in St Mirren B's SPFL Trust Trophy match versus Lowland League side Berwick Rangers.

The Saints' 3-2 win at Shielfield Park on Tuesday evening will be recorded as a 3-0 victory for Berwick Rangers, who now progress to the second round to face Dumbarton.

The Paisley side admitted breaching rules during Tuesday's game and have accepted £1,000 fine - which is suspended until 30 June 2025 pending any further breaches.

"We would like to apologise to the players & coaching staff involved and to our supporters," St Mirren stated on X.

"While we felt we presented a strong case to the tribunal on the mitigating circumstances, disappointingly precedence has underpinned the decision that was reached.

"Even though we felt our case was strong, we recognise that there are things we could have done better, and we will conduct a full review into the matter as well as implementing additional measures to ensure this situation does not occur again."

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Stephen Robinson heaped praise on the "brilliant" Buddies support who stuck by his St Mirren side in their comfortable victory against Valur.

From the march to the ground, the pre-match tifo display and the constant chanting and cheering, the St Mirren fans packed inside the SMISA stadium certainly made the most of European football's return to their town.

“It was fantastic," Robinson said after the 4-1 win. "A great display at the start with a lot of work that people don’t see, great respect for them.

"The atmosphere in the stadium was brilliant, even when we got a bit tired and they scored the penalty.

“The fans rallied behind us and that’s massive. It shows the club is so together and the fans are enjoying what we’re doing.

“I just said to the boys, the parades and the fanfare around the game was all for the fans. We were there to play with cool minds and cool heads.

“I thought we did that for the vast majority of the game. I thought we should have scored more.

“I believe they only had two shots on target, one was a penalty."

Image source, SNS

• For a second successive season, St Mirren will face Hibernian on matchday one, after the Buddies won 3-2 on the opening matchday last term.

• Hibernian have only lost one of their last 10 Scottish Premiership visits to St Mirren (W7 D2), a 1-0 defeat in August 2022.

• St Mirren have won on matchday one in three of their last six Scottish Premiership seasons (D1 L2), although lost the last time they played at home in their opener in 2022-23 (0-1 v Motherwell).

• Hibernian have won on matchday one in six of their last seven Scottish Premiership seasons, although the exception was their 3-2 defeat at home to St Mirren last term.

• St Mirren only won one of their final nine league games of last season (D2 L6). Indeed, since the beginning of this run in mid-March, their five points was the fewest picked up by any side in the Scottish Premiership.

Image source, SNS

Next weekend's Scottish Premiership match at Pittodrie, involving Aberdeen and St Mirren, has been moved to a 15:00 (BST) kick-off on Sunday, 11 August.

The match was originally scheduled 24 hours before, but due to St Mirren's Europa Conference League third-qualifying round tie against Brann on Thursday, it has been pushed back a day.

We asked you St Mirren fans for your views after an incredible win over Valur in Paisley on Thursday night.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Craig: I was 13 the last time we played in Europe and was there tonight with my eight-year-old daughter. What an incredible atmosphere. The players and fans did us proud. A well deserved win and now looking forward to the next adventure.

Andy: What a fantastic performance from the Saints. A long time ago I was pessimistic about our progression in a European tie but not now. I believe that with this team and manager we can progress to the group stages of this competition.

William: What a thrill for people like Saints legend Tony Fitzpatrick to see the stadium almost sold out and also being shown live on the BBC.

For Tony in particular this must be his great wish. This was a wonderful result and fully deserved. We need to be very mindful that our next opponent Brann have also won their game but we can rightly feel confident.

Kev: So often on great occasions St Mirren have sadly failed to deliver, but in the evening sunshine they brightened up the night with a beautiful performance. It’s nights like this that makes all the heartache of being a St Mirren supporter worth waiting for.

Alistair: Fantastic result on our home return to European football. If we continue to play like we did, we will fear nobody and cause a lot of teams problems.

Anon: Good overall performance and difficult to name a player of the match. Probably Mark O'Hara back to his best, but the entire midfield impressed. The coach of Valur summed it up best - we were a couple of leagues better than them and the crowd played their part in piling on the pressure making the atmosphere hostile for the opposition.

Craig: I waited over 30 years for this and it was worth it. There was a bit of pressure on the Saints to progress in front of a packed stadium and the guys turned up and put on a brilliant performance.

My son is nine and has had his season ticket five years - he has come to expect top six and European football! We're enjoying the ride.